Electric switch with snap action



Jan. 10, 1950 R. N. RQWE ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH SNAP ACTION Filed Nov. 30, 1946 4 Shets-Sheet l Fig.1

INSULATION mm.

INVENTOR. RAYMOND NRowa J. 10, 1950 R. N. ROWE 2,494,314

ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH S NAP ACTION Filed Nov. 30. 1946' 4-Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. RAYMOND NRowE Jan. 10, 1950 R. N. ROWE 2,494,314

ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH SNAP ACTION Filed Nov. 30, 1946 tst 3 INVENTOR. RAYMONDNBOWE R. N. ROWE ELECTRIC SWITCH wnu ramp ACTION flied Nov. so. 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 0 4 5 m Mum 5 VN f 1 V W 0 W. m w A R Patented Jan. 10, 1950 ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH SNAP ACTION Raymond N. Rowe, Plainville, Conn., assignor to The Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Plainville, Conn, a corporation of Connccticut Application November 30, 1946, Serial No. 713,194 12 Claims. (01. 74-97) This invention relates particularly to manually actuated switches and the main object is to provide a positive and powerful snap action with no possibility of the parts getting stuck on a dead nter.

The invention relates to the quick make and quick break or snap action mechanism regardless of the type of mounting.

I have discovered that it aids greatly to arrange the parts so as to get the maximum power at the correct time, that is when starting to open or close the switch. For this purpose, I provide a special arrangement of two opposing spring tievices and have constructed the mechanism so it the switch can be operated even though the throwing springs should both become broken. A handle member is connected with throwing means which include two spring guides. The inner ends of these spring guides have sliding connections with an inside handle piece and the outer ends of the spring guides have sliding connections with an actuating member. There is no dead center position of either the handle or the throwing mechanism, and I provide a swinging actuating frame or lever surrounding a cam which provides for starting motion of the parts during normal switch operation.

Fig. 1 is a view of the front of a switch embodying the invention, the switch parts being shown in the closed circuit position.

Fig. 1a is a detail view of the actuating shaft.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the rear of the mechanism, in the closed circuit position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. I.

' Fig. 3a is a detail view of a positioning plate.

Fig. 4 is a rear view showing the snap action mechanism in the open circuit position.

. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of parts of the snap action mechanism.

- Fig. 7 is an exploded view of one of the spreaders spring guides or throwing arms and an abut.- ment of the snap action mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a view from the front showing the oscilia-ting actuator lever in the closed circuit position mounted on the back plate. the front parts being omitted.

Fig. 10 is a front view showing the oscillating actuator in the open circuit position.

In the form shown herein, all the parts are carried by a frame which is adapted to be installed in a suitable receptacle. This frame has a top plate 10 with sides II, II and ends l2, I2

adapted to be secured to a support in any suit.-

able manner. An insulating plate I3 is mounted.

on the top plate and on this are mounted the circuit terminals and the switch contact and protective mechanism. Insulating cross bars 14 and to support the circuit terminal pieces 16 and ll. Switch units l8 of any suitable form and size are supported on these terminal pieces.

In the form shown, each switch unit has me sula-ting side plates [9, l 9 between which the concluctor parts are supported, These include sta: tionary contacts 20 and 2| and fuse supporting members 22 and 23. Contact 20 is connected to terminal I1 and contact 2] is connected to fuse base 22. The other fuse base 23 is connected to terminal [6. The movable switch member 24 is forked and slidable between contacts 20 and 2|. To operate the member 24, it is connected to a yoke or saddle 25 which has ears 25 slidable in guide ways 2! in the plates l9, [9. This yoke or saddle fits over a transverse insulating crank shaft 28 which has arms 29, 29 hinged or pivoted to the sides of the frame at 30, 3B.

The switch is actuated by a knob 3| carried by the shaft 32 which passes through a slot 12' in the front plate. This shaft has two offsets 33. and 34. The knob is suitably secured to the ofiset 33 and the ofiset 34 is connectedto the snap action mechanism which is carried by a back plate 35 behind the top plate. Plate ,35 is secured at the ends to the top plate by fastening means such as screws36, 3B. The central part of plate 35 is offset beneath the top plate and in the space between plates to and 35-is mounted an actuating lever member 31 which is hinged to plate 3 5 at 38. One end of. member 3'! has an upturned forked arm 39 which engages one end of the cross bar or shaft 2.8.

A cam member .40 constitutes a part of a hub which also includes .a two-armed oscillator 4 l, the arm 34 of the shaft 32 and the Washer 4 4 a d 43. The throwing member 44 surrounds the washer 43 and has a curved slot 45 to allow for relativemovernent of the shaft 32 and its hub. The parts of the hub are suitably secured together by screws or bolts 46, Member 44 is connected by link 4'! to lever 31 but is limited in its rotation by the abutmcnts 48 and .49. The plate (Fig, 3a) serves to position the cam member 40 within the actuating lever 31.

Power throwing members are interposed between members 4l and 44. These include guide rods 50, 5.9, each of which is hinged at 51 to memher 4 I and slides in a slot 52 in the outerend of one of the arms of member 44. In order to utilize the maximum power of the springs 53, 53 I provide the arms of the member 4| with slots 54 which are elongated circumferentially of the axis of member 4|. The result is that when the hinge pins 5| pass the center lines during the rotation of member 4|, the pins suddenly jump or snap over past the center line and thus permit the springs to exert their maximum power and snap the parts to the new position, i. e. in changing from on to off or vice versa.

I also amplify this action by providing a slotted shoe 55 which forms an abutment for the outer end of each spring. The slot 52 in the end of member 44 is made longer than the width of guide rod 50 so that the shoe and guide rod can slide from side to side when snapping past to center line.

When the hub is turned by means of knob 3| and shaft 32 the member 4| compresses the springs 53, 53 until the hinge pins 5|, 5| pass the center lines whereupon the springs kick or snap the member 44 in the direction opposite to the direction in which member 4| was turned. The snap action of member 44 through the connecting link 41 snaps the lever 31 about its hinge 38. The forked arm 39 of lever 31 thus throws the crank shaft 28 up or down as the case may be, and thus actuates the switch units out of control of the operator.

In case the springs break, the switch action can be efiected by turning the knob 3| in the usual way since the cam 40 turns with the knob and its shaft 32 and engages one of the edges 56 or 51 of lever 3| and forces the lever to turn and throw open or close the circuit with a motion controlled wholly by hand.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the throwing mechanism is powerful and positive in action, with no possibility of a dead center position. While this mechanism is shown mounted on the back of a switch mounting plate, it is understood that it might be mounted in the side or cover of a switch box or any other conventional mounting location.

It will be noted that the short link 41 connecting the throwing member 44 with the actuating lever 31 is so positioned that it gets the maximum power at'the correct time, namely, at the start of the opening movement or at the start of the closing movement of the switch. Furthermore, it compensates for the loss or power when the springs 53 are in their most extended position and also takes advantage of the power developed when said springs are under maximum compression. While the actuating lever member 31 is shown hinged, it may be arranged to slide if desired.

It will also be seen that owing to the position of the cam member 40 and the arrangement of the springs 53, there is no dead center position of either the handle or the throwing mechanism.

The switch unit per se is claimed in my application filed November 7, 1946, Serial Number 108,375, now Patent No. 2,468,235. The general construction which provides for the assembly or substitution of a number of such switch units is claimed in my application filed January 16, 1947, Serial Number 722,349.

I claim:

1 1. In an electric switch, an actuating member, a throwing member, a link hinged to connect said throwing member and said actuating member, snap-action means for normally actuating said throwing member and a cam for directly engaging and actuating said actuating member in case of failure of said throwing member.

2. In an electric switch, an actuating lever, a. pivoted throwing member, a link hinged to connect said throwing member to said actuating lever, snap-action means for normally actuating said throwing member and a cam for directly engaging and actuating said lever in case of failure of said throwing member to act.

3. In an electric switch, an actuating lever, a throwing member, a link hinged to connect said throwing member to said actuating lever, manually operable snap-action means for normally actuating said throwing member and manually controlled means including a cam for actuating said lever in case of failure of said throwing member.

4. In an electric switch actuating mechanism, a hinged actuating lever, snap-action mechanism for actuating saidi-lever including springs, means for manually actuating said snap action mechanism and a cam controlled by said means for manually actuating said snap-action mechanism for actuating said actuating lever in case said springs break and said snap-action mechanism fails to operate said lever.

5. In an electric switch actuating mechanism a movable switch member, snap-action mechanism for actuating said member including springs, means for manually actuating snap-actlon mechanism and means including a cam controlled by said means for manually actuating said snap-action mechanism for actuating said switch member in case said springs break and said snap-action mechanism fails to operate said member.

6. In an electric switch actuating mechanism, an actuating member, snap-action mechanism for actuating said member including springs, means for manually actuating said snap-action mechanism and a cam controlled by said means for manually actuating said snap-action mechanism, for actuating said actuating member in case said snap action mechanism fails to operate said member.

7. In an electric switch, a base having a transverse bar adapted to actuate switch units, an actuating lever connected to said bar, an oscillatable throwing member a connection between said throwing member and said actuating lever, a manually operable member, snap-action means normally connecting said manually operable,

member and said throwing member and cam means coacting between said manually operable member and said actuating lever for actuating the same in case of failure of the snap-action means.

8. In an electric switch, an actuating lever, an-

manually operable member and said actuating lever.

- 9. In an electric switch, a base having a transverse bar adapted to actuate switch units, an

-. actuating lever connected to said bar, an oscillatable throwing member, a connecting link hinged to said throwing member and to said actuating lever, a manually operable member, snap-action m eans normally connecting said manually operable member and said throwing member and a cam action means between said manually operable member and said actuating lever.

10. In a snap switch, a frame, a manually operated hub mounted to turn through a limited angle in the frame and including an oscillator having two oppositely disposed arms, a throwing member having two oppositely disposed arms and mounted to turn about said hub, a guide rod having a lost motion connection with each arm of the oscillator and having a sliding connection with the oppositely disposed arms of the throwing member, a compression spring mounted on each guide rod, an actuating member mounted to turn through a limited angle and a link hinged to said throwing member and to said actuating member whereby when the hub is turned said actuating member is moved from one position to another out of control of the operator.

11. In a snap switch, a frame, a manually operated hub mounted to turn through a limited angle in the frame and including an oscillator having two oppositely disposed arms, a throwing member having two oppositely disposed arms and mounted to turn about said hub, a guide rod having a lost motion connection with each arm of the oscillator and having a sliding connection with the oppositely disposed arms of the throwing member, a compression spring mounted on each guide rod, an actuating member mounted to turn through a limited angle, a link hinged to said throwing member and to said actuating member whereby when the hub is turned said actuating member is moved from one position to another out of control of the operator and a cam carried by said hub for engaging the actuating member to move the same in case the springs do not operate.

12. A quick make and quick break switch, a top platehaving side flanges projecting rearwardly, a throwing member hinged at the rear of the topplate between the side flanges and having an arm projecting from the rear to the front of the top plate, a cross bar hinged to the side flanges, actuated by said arm and extending across the front of the top plate to actuate movable switch members mounted on the front of the, top plate, an actuating shaft having a hub mounted in the top plate and extending in front of the top plate, and snap action mechanism beneath the top plate connecting said hub and said throwing member.

RAYMOND N. ROWE.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 435,093 Herrick Aug. 26, 1890 1,334,784 Newton Mar. 23, 1920 1,444,556 Sacks Feb. 6, 1923 1,488,112 Goeller Mar. 25, 1924 1,519,924 Nero Dec. 16, 1924 1,602,871 Aalborg Oct. 12, 1926 1,617,040 Zimmer Feb. 8, 1927 1,733,267 Kellner Oct. 29, 1929 2,177,283 Schellenger Oct. 24, 1939 2,314,714 Kouyoumjian Mar. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 86 Number Country Date 275,165 Italy June 13, 1930 

